Effects of a Peer-Mediated Aerobic Conditioning Program on Fitness Measures with Children Who have Moderate and Severe Disabilities

Abstract

Concerns about the physical fitness of children with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities have received relatively little attention in the literature. A school-based aerobic conditioning program for such children was developed and evaluated experimentally. Unique aspects of the program are its emphases on children who have moderate and severe disabilities, on the experimental rigor of the evaluation, and on integration within the context of an exercise program. Two groups of children, each group from a different school, participated. Their entry into the program was staggered in a multiple baseline fashion. The results revealed that the level of fitness of both groups improved only at the point in time when the program was introduced. Individual results displayed greater variation; some children benefited and others did not. Consumer satisfaction measures suggest that both the students with disabilities and their nonhandicapped peers enjoyed participating in the program. Specific suggestions for improving both the program and the measures gathered are described. Means of maintaining such a program in school and community settings are discussed.

The Effect of Peer Tutoring on Interaction Behaviors in Inclusive Physical Education

“…Limited research also supports the fact that peers can be trained in providing assistance to students with SMD (Vogler et al, 2000). Along this line, Halle, Gabler-Halle, and Bemben (1989) and Block and colleagues (2001) determined that peer support can be effective in increasing physical skills and motor performance of elementary school age students with severe disabilities. However, in both studies, the peer support programs were implemented in segregated settings (e.g., Special Olympics program at a special school, university fitness laboratory) not related to GPE programs.…”

Relation Between Heart Rate and Problem Behaviors

“…Recent advances i n measurement technology, however, allow reliable heartrate measures to be taken during dynamic activities in natural environments (Romanczyk et al, 1992). Heart-rate monitors such as the Polar Vantage XL have been developed for use in athletic training and research (Dobkin & Pihl, 1992;Halle & Gabler-Halle, 1989), and there is evidence of its reliability and validity (Leger & Thivierge, 1988).…”

Antecedent exercise in the treatment of disruptive behavior: A meta-analytic review.

“…In contrast, Halle et al's (1989) data indicate that many handicapped and nonhandicapped children find regular aerobic exercise to be pleasurable. Several other investigators (e.g., Evans et al, 1985; McGimsey & Favell, 1988) report anecdotally that subjects seem to enjoy the exercise.…”

“…It may or may not be reasonable to infer that therapists would also find exercise acceptable for "externalizing" problems. Perhaps most importantly, Halle, Gabler-Halle, and Bemben (1989) assessed the degree to which both severely handicapped and nonhandicapped children enjoyed participating in a program of regular aerobic activity. Results of their survey indicated a high degree of consumer satisfaction among both groups.…”